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Arthritis Management
Arthritis is among the most common issues our patients at Metroplex experience and receive treatments for. Though there is not one specific treatment plan to heal arthritis, through extensive evaluation and comprehensive care, we get down to the source of pain and take action to strengthen and improve the function of those causes.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis cannot be described by one specific disease, but rather a term used to refer to joint pain, swelling, or disease. While it is most common among women and naturally occurs more frequently with aging, Arthritis commonly affects people of all ages, sexes, and races. It is the leading cause of disability in America with nearly 6.5 million cases among children and adults combined.
There are several common symptoms of arthritis, including pain, stiffness, or swelling of joints, and normally a decreased range of motion happens with the discomfort. The intensity of symptoms varies greatly and is not always persisting. With pain and stiffness from arthritis, a case may stay the same for years, or get better/worse over time. This can lead to the inability to live a normal life without the pain of walking, climbing stairs, or doing other daily activities. In some cases, permanent damage can be caused by arthritis and can develop into dysfunction such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on X-ray.
Additionally, Arthritis often leads to muscle and joint weakness, which increases the risk of injuries from having a fall, so it is important to receive treatments in order to confidently build back the strength of joints/muscles.
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How is Arthritis treated?
A common conception among people is that “arthritis cannot be cured.” Pain from arthritis is due to multiple reasons such as joint stiffness, muscle tension, tight joint capsule, trigger points, synovitis, etc., and extensive evaluation can often find the source of pain and begin treatments to strengthen those specific areas/joints.
At Metroplex, there are numerous treatment options for our patients experiencing pain from arthritis. The following treatment plans are available:
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Aqua therapy uses water to minimize weight on joints and reduces pain, this also improves muscle flexibility and movement restrictions
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Manual therapy treatment helps with improving joint stiffness, muscle tightness and helps to increase pain-free range of motion
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Strength and Endurance exercises help to limit the progression of arthritis and have strong evidence suggesting improved tolerance to walking, daily activities, and higher quality of life.
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Stretching exercises and neuromuscular interventions help to restore posture and movement restrictions.
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Electrical modalities are used to target joint and muscle pain for relief.
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Myofascial techniques for muscle and joint contractures.
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Strength and stabilization exercises for weakness and joint instability.
Physical therapy interventions are directed towards improving the associated factors which lead to increased levels of impairment and pain. Having specific treatment plans established for your specific arthritis case helps to fight the progression of pain, and can improve the quality/speed of your recovery.
How can I receive arthritis treatments?
Schedule an appointment with Metroplex Physical Therapy to get an overall treatment plan set up and ask your physical therapist if arthritis treatments could aid your healing and performance. Call us to schedule an appointment today!
Other Treatments
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